B’nai Mitzvah and What's Up?!
Kolot Chayeinu’s programs for our children and their families are a crucial part of our community. As a Jewish community, we believe strongly in teaching and passing on our tradition to the next generation. Children learn about Judaism, Jewish culture, and what it means to be Jewish from family, school, and community, and we are dedicated to supporting learning from all three. Knowledge is crucial to fostering critical thinking skills. Students are guided by the study of Tanakh, other texts, and rituals to make their own decisions and informed practices of traditions.
The B’nai Mitzvah Program at Kolot Chayeinu is a three-year commitment:
Years 1 & 2: B’nai Mitzvah (6th and 7th Grade)
Participation in B'nai Mitzvah Class for Years 1 and 2 includes:
Attendance at 6 Shabbat services throughout the year (10/12 must be Saturday morning or mincha)
Weekly private B’nai Mitzvah tutoring for one year leading up to B’nai Mitzvah
Monthly Family Class
In B’nai Mitzvah 1, students learn about Shabbat morning services through an interactive learner’s minyan class. In B’nai Mitzvah 2, students concentrate on several prayers: Tallit Blessing, V’shamru & Morning Kiddush, Torah Blessing, Haftarah Blessing, Shema and its blessings, Barehu, and Chatzi Kaddish. Both B’nai Mitzvah 1 and 2 students receive 30 minutes of Hebrew language learning, and are also given a choice of an elective class to enrich their understanding of Jewish history and culture, ritual and religion, values, and ethics. Previous elective choices have included Media, Painting, Midrash, and History.
Additionally, students and parents gather together monthly with a member of the clergy for Family Class in order to study Torah and Talmudic text together, explore the Jewish calendar and holidays, and delve deeper into what becoming a B’nai Mitzvah means for students and families.
Year 3: What's Up?! (8th Grade)
Participation in What's Up?! includes:
Class roughly every other Monday (pizza dinner included), plus several additional rehearsals in the spring
Attendance at 3 of 4 scheduled Action Days
What’s Up?! is a project-based year focused on social justice as Torah learning. Students choose four units of study, which include attending guest panel discussions, participating in direct action trips, and creating original pieces to synthesize learning.
The four units of study for 5785 are as follows:
Healthcare medicine and mental health
LGBTQ+ rights
Gun control
Homelessness & affordable housing (subset topics include poverty & hunger)
Learning includes:
Jewish text study
Multimedia learning activities (primarily creative writing, theater, photography, and film)
Opportunities to hear from guest artists and activists
Social action days throughout the year
Performance development for the congregation and friends, which includes writing, rehearsing, set building, ticket selling, and choosing organizations to benefit from the ticket sales
Consensus-based decision processes
